Morton, Washington . . . yep, it’s a good day!

Friday, August 30

Bridget, Spike, and I are on our way to Morton to pick up the mail.

(Editing of today’s photos is poor due to my glasses being left at camp!)

I put together a blog post in the library parking lot at Randle and now we’re making the seventeen-mile trip west to pick up the new registrations for the Perfect Tow Vehicle and the Best Little Trailer.

If you’re a brand-new reader of “rvsue and her canine crew,” let me get you up to speed.The crew and I are camping in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest of south-central Washington.

I procrastinated about sending the money order for the registration renewals to my mail-forwarding service in South Dakota.Sunday my vehicle registrations expire.I need those registrations to be in the mail!

I pull on the inner door of the P.O. but it won’t open.

“They’re closed until two o’clock.”

I turn to see a petite, senior lady with bright eyes.She’s dressed in a print shirt, pink slacks, and sneakers.“They close up and go to lunch,” she adds.

“I’m Esther.”Just then a local resident walks by and they exchange a few words in that relaxed way of people who’ve known each other for several years.

“Well, Esther.I’m going over to Cody Cafe.Thanks so much for the help.”I turn to go.

“Tell the girls at the Café that Esther sent you!” she calls after me.

I park the PTV next to a ball field.

“I’ll be back.You be good, little puppies.”I lock up the PTV and walk the block to Cody Café.

The last of the lunch crowd is filing out as I arrive.

I pick up a menu and sit in a booth.

Soon the senior lady running the place comes over with a glass of water.I tell her Esther sent me. She smiles. They probably went to kindergarten together.

“Would you like the lunch special?It’s halibut sandwich with clam chowder.”

“Gee, I’d like the sandwich but I don’t care for clam chowder.”Fish and milk should never be mixed. The very thought of it constricts my throat.

“How ‘bout fries instead?”

Well, Esther is right.

The fish is good – fresh with a crunchy coating, no grease. I’ve got an appetite to match this lunch.

I devour every bite, leaving the plate clean. My first restaurant meal in Washington is fish.How fitting.

At the post office I’m handed a bundle of mail.

I jump in the PTV and quickly flip through the envelopes.Hmm . . .insurance, Medicare, Medicare, insurance, Medicare, Casita Travel Trailers? . . . There it is!Pennington County Treasurer’s Office. . . It came!Boy, that was close . . .

The town of Morton is bustling. It’s Friday afternoon and the start of Labor Day Weekend.Right before picking up Route 12 to go back to camp, I pull into a farm and feed store.

I interrupt this riveting story to make a confession.

Several days ago, as I sit in the PTV alongside a road somewhere in order to pick up internet signal for posting on this blog, I’m startled by the sound of scratching directly over my head.Apparently some rodents live in the ceiling of the PTV!

To remove the panel above the front seat area would require fooling around with the overhead light and such.It’s more complicated than I want to attempt.I’d get the panel down and then wouldn’t be able to put it back right.I know how these things go for me.

So I drive around with rats riding above my head!

I was too embarrassed to mention this here. (Not to mention the disgrace to two RAT terriers I know.)I tell you now because I have a solution!The farm and feed supply store has Cab Fresh Rodent Repellant!

Back at camp . . .

I pry down the ceiling panel far enough to shove two packets of Cab Fresh in there.I put another packet behind the bench seat and another at the back of the PTV.The fragrance of balsam fir fills the PTV.Rodents hate the smell of balsam fir.(I’ll report on the results in an upcoming post.)

I hope they don’t jump out onto my shoulders while I’m driving!

Later . . .

I sit in front of the campfire with the pile of mail in my lap.Bridget and Spike are in their pen, snuggled in their beds like good, little . . . SLACKERS.I slit each envelope, throwing them into the fire.

Inside the Casita Travel Trailers envelope is a thank-you card.How odd.I’ve had the BLT for more than two years . . .

Hmm . . . What’s this?

A check for $200!

Someone – Margaret W., a reader of this blog – bought a Casita and gave my name.Thank you, Margaret!You’re a sweetheart!

I gaze into the campfire and reflect on the day gone by.

The registrations arrive . . . I meet Esther . . . lunch at Café Cody is fun . . . that fish was so good . . . the roof-dwelling rodents are on the run . . . and two hundred smackaroos drop into my lap.

70 Responses to Morton, Washington . . . yep, it’s a good day!

Oops, I put some info on dog friendly places on yesterdays post. Should have waited longer for todays post.
So glad about the registration, I feared we WA and OR readers were going to have to make emergency supply deliveries to you. Can’t wait to read about Mt Adams! Its every bit as beautiful as Rainier, and only a few feet smaller.

See…things happen for a reason. If the PO was open..you would have never met Esther or had the fish sandwich! I about drooled all over my keyboard looking at that sandwich. I sure miss seafood…real seafood! Cute little town…cute café too!

Oh dear GOD! Whaddayamean they are living in the roof! What are they eating? And if they are eating they are ……………..uhh we won’t go there! Make sure you give them an exit so they don’t go toward the dash! That is all you need! Start banging..no.. how about smoothing…the area systematically toward the opening…..

In that close quarters the Fresh Cab may give the crew a headache…so heads up.

I really appreciate you contacting Cab Fresh. I haven’t been leaving anything open for their exit, so it’s good to know I don’t have to.

Maybe I’ll contact them once this “experiment” is over.

If Margaret’s a follower, I probably can find her email address which I will do to send her a personal thank you. Right now I’m having a hard time keeping up with online business and this blog . . .not having internet at camp.

All my scrimping and saving all year long… All the Amazon work . . . Haha… It’s all so I can indulge in Dungeness crab… that someone else cooks for me and delivers on a plate. I think I’ll order a frosty-cold beer to go with it. Sound good?

I grew up four blocks from the ocean. Hearing the seals on Seal Rock at the Cliff House in SF and the fog horns from the freighters.

I don’t miss that part! But you certainly struck a nerve when you mentioned and then SHOWED the picture. As a matter of fact we are having Progresso clam chowder and a Caesar salad for dinner tomorrow! Not the same quality but it will do!

Wow that sounds like an awesome day indeed Sue…
Continue to enjoy all of your great pictures and reading your adventures 🙂 Soo nice you can have a campfire there.
Love Washington but having grown up in S.Cal those mossy overgrown forests on the west side of the state made me feel claustrophobic the decades I lived there, I’m sure to visit would be different and yep Olympic National Park out of Sequim is the real rain forest there.
of all the cautionary advice, it just all struck me funny, I know you have been around long enough to use common sense, appreciate what you said about the dble standard where safety is concerned for women, when traveling alone for so long I was told to put a mans cowboy hat in the back window of the car (never did), I did however have a big stuffed yellow teddy bear (a gift) that sat in the front passenger seat, not for safety that’s just where it fit during moves throughout the states 🙂
Be well and enjoy…
T~

Hi, Tawanda… You write such interesting comments! Oh, that man’s boot idea will never die, I guess. Half a century of feminism and we’re still perceived as less powerful than a pair of boots or a man’s cowboy hat. And this attitude is perpetuated by women, not just men. What is this, the 1950s?

Hi Sue. When I first found you, I was so interested that I went back and read your posts from the beginning. I truly enjoy reading your entries! And I love your stories about the adorable Bridget and Spike. Especially when Spike has to lay down in all the lake, ponds and streams while dainty Bridget just looks at him in disbelief. I always call my son over to look at Spike so enjoying his soak and we both laugh so hard at him. Can’t wait for your next report! 🙂

Ok Sue….time for a heart to heart. When I lived in San Marcos California the field next to our mobile home (in a park) was being developed. By plowing up that field for development they sent all the resident RATS (read not mice) out looking for new homes. They found one with us. Now I am a problem solver so in my infinite wisdom I put rat poison in several places where the rats (and not anyone’s pet) could consume it. The did. Then they promptly crawled up into the walls where they met the rat maker. Now, for weeks we lived with the odor of dead rats. Meanwhile, I bought rat traps and baited them with peanut butter and had the disgusting job of disposing of the little critters. That seemed to take care of those who were too smart to take the poison. Nasty situation all around. Moral of the story, do not poison them. PS Traps baited with peanut butter work every time……Guaranteed.

Yes, I can corroborate the peanut butter rat trap solution from my S.O., who has rat visitations from the canal across the street. Peanut butter works every time. (Put me off peanut butter for many weeks, however.) I’m more worried about rats falling dead out of your headliner than jumping out.

BTW, when someone asks your name, you should say, as did the late, great Johnny Cash: “My name is SUE. HOW DO YOU DO?” :0)

Funny how you mentioned Johnny Cash, Gayle. When Sally, the camp host, told me we didn’t have to move out of our site even though it was reserved for the weekend (She moved them since they hadn’t specified which site), I read her name tag and reacted by putting an arm around her shoulders and saying . . .

Our neighbor started his truck up yesterday. Chipmunks, pine needles and various other chipmunk odds and ends flew out the tail pipe. We also have been in AZ Jim’s predicament. Dead animals in the walls are nasty to smell. Is cab fresh all pine balsam or just the scent it emits.

Hi Bill and Ann…. Cab Fresh is fir balsam. I should get some branches around here to add to it.

I think they may be chipmunks. Remember the rodent that ran over my feet at Tieton River Camp? Chipmunks are all over that place. We’d come back to camp and find them sitting on the propane tank cover and the BLT’s tongue, looking at the PTV pull up, like… “Welcome home! Where ya’ been?”

Your story about the rats just reminded me to go out to my vehicles and put some more moth balls in the engine compartments. They absolutely hate the smell and will not go near the car if they smell moth balls. Discovering rodents in one’s car is really kind of devastating. But since I discovered moth balls are a huge deterent to rodents, and also ants, I stock up on em from the Dollar Tree and place them in stragetic locations. It works! Washington State is one place I do not think I have been it’s on my bucket list for sure when I finally blast off for my new life. It looks absolutely gorgeous, so green and those beautiful mountains, not to mention, they have just legalized recreational use of pot for those so inclined. All in all a pretty progressive state with lots of beautiful camping and nice people to boot. Terrible what is happening around Yosemite with all the fires, hopefully by the time you work your way down, they will be well under control if not totally extinguished. Happy to hear you are doing well as well as crew.

I love your phrase, Virginia . . . “finally blast off for my new life.” That’s what it was like for me and the crew, leaving Georgia and embarking on this adventure of full-timing. It’s like we’re on a different planet!

I wish I could use moth balls. The smell would be bad for us, too.

Yes, do plan to come here. The quality of the air alone is worth a visit and there’s so much more than that to love.

Know what you mean by fish & milk…….. & no clammy chowder for me either. Are you sure that scratching above you was not just an old crow walking around on your roof. When Ranch sitting a few years back we would often have birds on our rig’s roof & they always made a scratching sound as well. And know what you mean by prying a ceiling panel off & not being able to get it back on again. I am equally mechanically challenged. Think I’ll get some of that Balsam Fir & stick it in my shoes…………..

I once had a VW Westfalia with mice in the headliner (also nesting in the heating system). Took a bit to get them all out! Mine were the result of the van sitting for a couple of years before I got it – I’m surprised that you are having a problem with the PTV in constant use! You definitely have the brazen variety of squatters.

Wishing you luck in getting rid of them swiftly. (Am not mentioning the failures of Bridget and Spike as my greyhound ignores rabbits and is afraid of cats and squirrels).

Many years ago I worked in Chehalis, Wa. – I had staff that lived in Morton. The mountains around there are quite nice – enjoy!

Ugh… I bet you have a chipmunk… our family calls them Timber Tigers! We had a chipmunk in our engine system in Sandy Springs (GA)… that smell just kept following us around! It was AWFUL. You know how darn humid it is in GA! Well, our humidity here has been pretty rich of late, and that is going to smell pretty icky… I think I am headed out to put moth balls in my trailer RIGHT NOW!

Not sure what highway you are headed to… I-5 is going to be a MESS tomorrow. But if you are headed out Hwy 12, you will find it sweetly tranquil. Once you cross I-5 you will find it slogs through some sweet little towns. Raymond has a nice (and fairly new) produce stand (Jay’s–we have one also in Aberdeen) where the fruit/veggies ar FRESH and CHEAP! VERY good buys!

We’re not leaving until Tuesday. Due to the Packwood Flea Market, I guess, the area is packed with motor homes. Also the last blast of summer on Labor Day Weekend. Locals tell me route 12 will be bumper-to-bumper out of here.

I’m loving the Washington fruit! Bought a watermelon… luscious! I’m normally not a big fruit eater, mainly because of the tasteless fruit sold in other parts of the country. But the fruit here is incredibly good. My laundry basket is filling up with shirts spotted with juice.

Yeah, I never would’ve thought license stickers could make me so happy. 🙂

I had some rats get in my engine on my new car five years ago, started it up and all kinds of lights flashed and it ran funny, called Toyota and they instructed me to drive it in, they came out and said “do you live near a field” It was a 200 dollar lesson.

They had me place decon in the engine compartment, well the rat died up in the dash, I took it apart myself didn’t want to pay a fortune, my daughter had to help with some tweazers to get it out, yuck! They even nested in my husbands air filter area of his car. My cat was a ratter at the time too. I guess it was the warmth they were after, I felt bad pulling out the poisen as an animal lover but enough was enough.

Wait………..I betcha Mick can make some fancy smancy high frequency thingy magiggy that won’t affect the crew…doesn’t take a lot of “ah”, watts or whatever else that drains the batteries….and plugs into the cig lighter.

Wow, we found this entry very interesting. For many reasons…and since some of the questions we would love to ask, I won’t post…I would email, but that is all…any rate, maybe we can ask them if we get to meet up. We would love to meet you…but not sure you are going to be near us, and when we are here (we have a couple trips to make before we head east again). We are near Lynnwood, WA…but would drive to meet up for that matter.

One thing, hubby and I lived remote some 13 years ago and some lousy pack mice of some kind set up camp in our car engine area and frame…so hubby got some steel wool and put it in all the openings in the frame where he figured they might get in. Also put out some decon and water (they must have water nearby for it to work)…soon no more troubles. Except a dead one got under the back seat which was quite an ordeal to get out and yes we COULD SMELL IT STRONGLY!! Since then, we think all is ok. Hope your solution will work and quickly.

So wonderful you had so many NICE things happen in one day!! Happy for you!!

Thank you for that great comment, Elizabeth! Please DO ask your questions here. I’ve answered questions in emails and then the same questions pop up in comments later on… So share here. 🙂

I hope we don’t have to go through the dead-rodent-smell scenario. What a pain these rodents are… Dang, I wish the crew would do something productive instead of just lying around sleeping and eating and getting on my nerves . ..

A friend left his pickup parked in the parking lot at a business (computer parts manufacturer) in the country for just an afternoon …. squirrels got under the hood & ate up the wiring harness and did …. get THIS … are you ready???? SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE!!!!! So, I’d say you DID have a good day …. especially compared to his! LOL

Sue, I met you in Anza Borrego at Peg Leg. Spike and Bridget got in my dogs stroller and we took photos of them…

Anyway, I’m currently on an RV trip, been gone for a month and I’m also in Washington. I’m in Castle Rock, above Longview, about an hour from where you are! My cousin lives here, so I’ve been hanging out until the holiday weekend is over. I’m heading to Astoria next, then heading down the coast for home in Southern CA.

I went to some of the campgrounds you blogged about, such as Natural Bridge and loved it. Thanks for your review of it.

What a great day for you and the crew! I may not be showing up here too often of late, but rest assured I am reading every post! Loving Washington State……….at least I can say that is one state of the US I have been to……….so beautiful! Love the photos over the last week…………keep them coming!

Even tho I have five cats, a rat still managed to enter our home. I’ve been setting bait…peanut butter and a trap but have not caught it yet. My cats are slackers apparently. The thought of a rat falling on your shoulder while driving is horrifying! I pray that does not happen. BTW Tioga George is back in the USA after the double murders of his friends Panchito and Pancho, the auto body shop owners. He left home camp in Mexico Friday and crossed the international border Sunday 9/2/13. So glad he made it safely back into USA.

A pox on the critters in your PTV – how dare they invade the space of such a wonderful group! 🙂 Can you tell I was an English lit major? I was told recently that I had roof rats in my attic – yuck! Had to pay a large sum to a pest control company to get rid of them and patch all the entry holes, but it was well worth it.

Glad to hear that things worked out at the PO and you’re now street legal again. Serendipity strikes again and you had a yummy lunch – now I’m craving fish! And $200 – good deeds are rewarded in unexpected ways.

I always stay home on major holidays, with no desire to fight the crowds or the traffic. Made the mistake once of trying to leave town after work on the Wed before Thanksgiving – what was usually a 30-minute drive to the edge of town turned into an hour in a sea of autos not moving very fast at all.

Hi, Sue… Yes, I receive many blessings every day, one of them is waking up!

This really puts Cab Fresh to the test because it may only work to keep rodents away. I’m trying to evict rodents who have already set up residence, enrolled the kids in school, joined the church and country club . . .

D-con seems so mean…..and if they die in your dwelling…that’s an added chore..to find them not to mention the stink. Ewwww

They don’t die in your dwelling. They go out to seek water and die there. Maybe it’s cruel but I don’t have any mice. I prefer to trap them but I worry about my dog getting into the trap [he loves peanut butter].

Cannot believe I forgot my mom’s solution to the mice troubles…she would take a small piece of walnut and GLUE IT to the trap…in trying to eat it, and yes, they might get a bite or 2, but ZAP, it got many that way.

And one question I had, you did answer….so I don’t need to ask it email. Thanks.

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Meet the canine crew!

Roger (left) and Reggie (right)

What is the BLT?

The BLT is what I consider the Best Little Trailer, a 2011 17-foot Casita Liberty Deluxe which is the full-time home for me and my crew.

What is the PTV?

The PTV is the Perfect Tow Vehicle. It's a 2005 Chevy Express Van with a V-8, 5.3 liter engine and equipped with a 200-watt solar panel on the roof and two AGM batteries inside.

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A blogorino is a reader who opens up the comment section of this blog and writes a message. Blogorinos are kind and friendly and fun to know!